Malaysian authorities call for more help in search for missing plane as investigation into crew begi

Updated
March 17, 2014 08:22:00

The search area for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 now involves 25 countries and covers an area stretching from central Asia to the southern Indian Ocean. China, France and the United States have all been asked for more satellite data and the call has also gone out for more ships and planes. Malaysian police have confiscated the pilot's home flight simulator as they investigate the possibility the plane may have been hijacked.

DAVID MARK: The acting transport minister is talking about the vast Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia.

If that's where the plane went down it could be the worst-case scenario for finding it.

The other possible flight corridor to the north suggests Flight MH370 could have ultimately ended its journey in central Asia.

That would mean the plane would have had to flown over mainland India.

But Nitin Gokhale, a respected defence expert with strong military contacts, says it's unlikely it could go undetected over Indian airspace.

NITIN GOKHALE: Because the radar chain on the eastern seaboard of India, it is quite strong, and similarly the civilian radar, or the flight control that is there, is quite active.

DAVID MARK: Now apart from the search effort on the sea, ground and in the air, Malaysia is calling in even more help - from space.

HISHAMMUDDIN HUSSEIN: We are asking countries that have satellite assets, including the US, China and France amongst others to provide further satellite detail. This is an unprecedented case.

DAVID MARK: Because officials in Malaysia say communications equipment was deliberately disabled and the plane deliberately flew off course, the investigation is focusing on passengers and crew and the possibility it was hijacked.

Police have confiscated the flight simulator which was set up in the house of the plane's pilot, captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah.

But now the family and friends of captain Zaharie are speaking out in his defence.

His friend Peter Chong says he can't believe captain Zaharie was involved in the plane's disappearance

PETER CHONG: I've known captain Zaharie for just over two years. I've known him to be a very friendly person, very jovial person who enjoys the company of people, who loves children, who loves people.

And in terms of a pilot, he is definitely a professional pilot. You know if he will be able to fly on a plane and we were given the choice to choose a pilot, captain Zaharie would be my first choice. I have no doubt about that.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Peter Chong, a friend of the pilot of MH370, captain Zaharie Shah. And David Mark prepared that report with extra reporting from Stephen McDonell.